Horology system



HOROLOGY SYSTEM Filed Dec. 31, 1930 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY frequencies as 25 cycles, cycles, etc.

Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED STATES Mrs 'i' FFECE My invention relatesbroadly to horology and more particularly to electric clock systems.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an electric clocksystem having means for periodically effecting a correction of the timemechanism for maintaining the operation of the clock mechanism with highdegree of precision.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric clock mechanismhaving means for maintaining the clock mechanism in operation in theevent of failure of the power on the iine system from which the electricclock is wound.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism forclocks in which a spring actuating mechanism is maintained in woundcondition by power derived from a power transmission line.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electric clock systemoperative upon an alternating current power supply line having means forselectively responding to a correcting pulse of a frequency differingfrom the frequency of the power which drives the clock mechanism forresetting the clock at periodic intervals and thus maintaining accurateoperation thereof.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the clock system setforth in the specification hereinafter following by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a clock system embodying theprinciples of my invention; Fig. 2 shows schematically one form ofcorrecting device which I provide for resetting the clock periodicallyand thus maintaining precise operation thereof; and Fig. 3 is afragmentary view of a modified form of the electric drive of the clockmechanism which I employ.

My invention is directed to a combined spring and power actuated clockhaving a power operated mechanism for correcting the clock every hourand resetting the minute hand to the minute every hour for maintainingaccurate time. The s ring actuated mechanism will continue the clockmechanism in operation over a period of several hours in the event thatthe power should go oif. When the power comes on again, the springactuated mechanism will be automatically wound ready for operationduring the next period that the power may go off. The spring actuatedmechanism may be wound and the clock mechanism operated from the usualalternating current power line at such standard The resetting device ofmy invention is operated at a higher frequency such as, for example, 500cycles and is operative to actuate an independent solenoid circuit forresetting the clock mechanism to the precise minute.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference character 1 designates thepower line system over which the 60 cycle alternating current power issupplied to the clock and over which the 500 cycle impulses areperiodically transmitted for correcting the clock to the precise minute.The line wire circuit connects to a pair of diametrically opposedsolenoids indicated at 2 and 3 which are connected in series across theline wire circuit. An armature member 4i pivotally mounted at 5 carriesthe magnetic members 6 and 7 which are attracted by the solenoids 2 and3. The armature member l is normally maintained centrally between thepoles of solenoids 2 and 3 by means of springs 8 and 9 as shown. Theextremity of the armature 4 carries a spring detent 10 which engages theratchet teeth on the ratchet 11. The vibratory movement of armature 4 intimed relation to the 60 cycle alternating current supplied over thepower line 1 sets the armature 4 into vibration, moving the detent 10with respect to ratchet 11, operating the train of gears 12 which areproperly proportioned to store energy in spring 20. A convenientconventional arrangement heretofore known in the art for connectingspring 20 between the motor gear train 11-12 and the clock gear train 35consists in mounting two gears as shown in Fig. 1 on the same shaft, butat least one gear being freely rotatable on the shaft. One end of shaft20 is attached to one of these gears which engages gear 12. The otherend of spring 20 is carried by a pin on the other gear, which engagesgear train 35. When spring 20 has been entirely wound, the winding traindriven from ratchet 11 is blocked and the spring tends to unwind,thereby operating gear system 35, driving the shafts carrying the hourhand 14 and minute hand 15 of the clock 16. In the event of failure ofthe power on line 1, the spring 20 unwinds and imparts movement to thegear system 35, driving the hands 14 and 15. That is, the clock isdriven from the spring 20 which is wound from time to time from thepower line 1. The synchronous movement of the armature enables detent 10to advance the ratchet 11. The pawl 26 prevents the reverse movement ofthe ratchet 11.

The correcting mechanism is shown at 27 including an auxiliary line 28connected to a filter 29 and including a solenoid 30 which actsmagnetically upon the armature 31 pivoted at 32. The armature 31 has afork shaped end represented at 33 adapted to be moved into the full lineposition as shown in Fig. 2 from the dotted line position restrained bypin 34. This movement is effected by the receipt of a signal impulse ofa frequency. distinguished from the frequency which drives the clockmechanism. A frequency of 500 cycles for example, transmitted over theline 1 each hour will be selected by filter 29 and utilized to excitesolenoid 30 which moves armature 31 into a position where the forked endof the armature centers either the minute hand 15 or a projecting memberconnected to the shaft thereof and shaped as represented at 15a toconform with the forked end 33 of the armature 31. The fork moves upprecisely on the minute and frictionally engages the projecting end ofthe minute hand 15 moving the minute hand for ward or backward withinsmall angular limits for precisely setting the minute hand on the exactminute.

In lieu of the spring biased armature system shown in Fig. 1, I mayprovide an armature member having inherent resiliency as illustrated inFig. 3, wherein the armatiu'e 21 carries magnetic members 22 and 23which are alternately attracted and repelled by solenoids 2 and 3 insynchronism with the 60 cycle alternating current where the armature iscarried by a flat spring 24 secured at 25.

While I have described my invention in certain of its preferredembodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may bemade and that no limitations upon my invention are intended other thanare imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is as follows:

1. A clock system comprising a clock mechanism including a main spring,an alternating current power supply line, a pair of solenoidselectrically connected in series and operated by said power supply line,an armature member movable between said solenoids at a rate dependingupon the frequency of said power supply line, a ratchet mechanismcontrolled by said armature member, gearing interconnecting said ratchetmechanism with said main spring for winding said main spring, and asetting device controlled by signal impulses transmitted over saidalternating current power supply line for correcting said clockmechanism at periodic time intervals, the frequency of said signalimpulses being widely different from the frequency of the power suppliedover said power supply line of said solenoid.

2. A clock system comprising a clock mechanism, a main spring fordriving said clock mechanism, an alternating current power supply line,an electromagnetic device actuated by said power supply line, a ratchetmechanism controlled by said electromagnetic device, meansinterconnecting said ratchet mechanism with said main spring for windingsaid main spring, an auxiliary circuit connected with said power supplyline, a frequency selective filter connected with said auxiliarycircuit, a solenoid connected with said filter and adapted toselectively respond to signal ing energy transmitted over said powersupply line at a frequency widely different from the frequency of thepower supplied to said electromagnetic device for periodically resettingsaid clock mechanism at recurring time intervals.

3. In a clock system, a clock mechanism, a main spring for driving saidclock mechanism, a 60 cycle alternating current power supply line, anelectromagnetic device controlled by said power supply line, an armaturemember controlled by said electromagnetic device, a ratchet mechanismcontrolled by said armature, gearing interconnecting said ratchetmechanism with said main spring for winding said main spring undervibratory action of said armature, an auxiliary circuit leading fromsaid power supply circuit, a frequency selective filter connectedtherewith, a solenoid connected with said frequency selective filter,said solenoid responding to signal impulses transmitted over said powersupply line at a frequency differing from the frequency of thealternating current supplied to said elec tromagnetic device, and anelectromagnetic armature member actuated by said solenoid for resettingsaid clock mechanism at recurring time intervals in accordance with thesignal impulses transmitted over said power supply circuit.

4. A clock system comprising a clock mechanism, a main spring fordriving said clock mechanism, an alternating current power supply line,an electromagnetic device actuated by said power supply line, a ratchetmechanism controlled by tromagnetic element for resetting said clock l"mechanism, a frequency selective filter connected in a branch linebetween said electromagnetic element and said power supply line, saidfilter comprising an inductance in each side of the branch line andcapacities respectively connected in shunt across the branch line ateach terminal of said inductances, and passing to said electromagneticelement from said power supply line only alternating current of afrequency widely different from the frequency of the alternating currentsupplied continuously by said power line for actuating saidelectromagnetic device.

5. A clock system comprising a clock mechanism, a. main spring fordriving said clock mechanism, an alternating current power supply line,an electromagnetic device actuated by said power supply line, a ratchetmechanism controlled by said electromagnetic device, meansinterconnecting said ratchet mechanism with said main spring for windingsaid main spring, an electromagnetic element, means controlled by saidelectromagnetic element for resetting said clock mechanism, a frequencyselective filter connected in a branch line between said electromagneticelement and said power supply line, said filter comprising capacitiesand an inductance unit independent of the actuating winding of saidelectromagnetic element, and passing to said elec tromagnetic elementfrom said power supply line only alternating current of a frequencywidely different from the frequency of the alternating current suppliedcontinuously by said power line for actuating said electromagneticdevice.

ROBERT H. WORRALL.

